The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the Bengaluru office of human rights body Amnesty International India on Thursday in connection with alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

According to the economic intelligence agency, Amnesty was denied permission under the FCRA but decided to circumvent this by routing money through another organisation.

“After Amnesty international India Foundation Trust was denied the permission/registration under FCRA, 2010 by [Ministry of Home Affairs], they resorted to bypass the FCRA Act by floating commercial entity in the name of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd,” the ED said in its statement. Amnesty officials said they did not want to comment on the matter yet as the raid was still underway.